New type of easy-to-use electronic calculator (computer)

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to “a type of easy-to-use electronic calculator”, which electronic calculator is characterized in that in addition to the calculation functions of conventional electronic calculators, it is especially convenient in the input of data and instruction. It is a common panel configuration that the display screen is on the top of conventional electronic calculators and the input keyboard is on the bottom, which is not so easy to use. According to the invention, buttons are arranged on the upper and right side of the display screen to facilitate the input, enabling the frequently input buttons and display screen to be within the visible scope making the calculator easier to use.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved electroniccalculator characterized in that besides the calculation functions ofconventional electronic calculators, it is very convenient for input ofdata and instructions, definitely greatly increasing the efficiency ofthe electronic calculator and making the application of electroniccalculator more widespread and convenient.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] The existing electronic calculators typically have an arrangementof a front panel with a data display screen on the top of the inputkeys. The drawbacks of such arrangement reside in that the data displayscreen is spaced from the keys for a certain distance, additionally, thekeys are positioned below the display screen, making the fullutilization of human vision in unfavorable situation. In such situationwhen one is using the electronic calculator, whenever a number oroperation instruction is being input, he has to move his visual linefrom the display screen to the key to be pressed. When one has finishedthe action of pressing a key, he has to move his visual line again fromthe position of the key to the display screen to view the result of theoperation for determining the correctness of his operation. Thus, eachtime for one to perform an operation, he has to move his visual line upand down twice. In practice, there will be large amount of data requiredto be computed and processed, especially for technical and financialpersonnel, the input amount of data and operation instructions isundoubtedly large. And the number of up and down movements of the humanvisual line is twice that of the inputs. Such frequent up and downmovements of the human visual line very likely cause one's eyes to betired, even resulting in dizziness, this makes financial personnelsubject to error making. On the other hand, it severely limits the speedof the use of the electronic calculators, reducing the efficiency of theuse of the electronic calculators. It is well known that electroniccalculators have the advantages of high operation speed and calculationaccuracy. But many people have already felt that the functions of theelectronic calculators are limited due to the inconvenience of theirinput. which in turn limits the use of electronic calculators severely.Due to the above mentioned reasons, most of the financial personnels arestill using the old calculation tool, i.e., abacus, to performcalculation, and rarely using such advanced calculation tool aselectronic calculator, this is a backward phenomenon fallen behind thedevelopment of science. In fact, a lot of people have endeavored tosolve the hard problem of difficulty of the input of electroniccalculators. Some of them have tried to do so by increasing the size ofthe keys, some of them by decreasing the number of keys, and yet some ofthem by reducing the functions of the electronic calculator. However,all those ways are less effective, without substantial effect. In fact,this problem has not been solved up-to-date.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anew type of easy-to-use electronic calculator which can convenientlysolve the problem of difficulty of data and operation instructions inputof electronic calculator. This will provide an ideal and popular “newtype of easy-to-use electronic calculator”.

[0004] The present invention is based on the long-time thoroughobservation and investigation of the characteristics of Herman vision,which reveals that human vision has the following characteristics, i.e.,the residuary light area above the human visual line is greater than theresiduary light area below the visual line. In accordance with thischaracteristic, the input keys of the electronic calculator originallypositioned below the display screen are moved to the upper, upper rightand right sides adjacent to the display screen, some of the infrequentlyused keys may still be arranged at positions easy-to-operate immediatelybelow the display screen, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. Thus, one onlyneeds to always keep his visual line on the display screen whileperforming calculation operation, but with the residuary sight of hiseyes to monitor the input by pressing keys. This allows the convenientinput by pressing keys without the multiple to-and-fro movements of thehuman visual line, of course, this may reduce the burden of human eyes,as well as in crease the speed and efficiency of the use of theelectronic calculator and improve the accuracy of operation.

[0005] It is discovered by observation that a number is input into theelectronic calculator at the last digit. From this feature, one has onlyto watch and determine whether the last digit of an input number on thedisplay screen is correct to determine the correctness of eachoperation. Thus, when one is performing calculation operation on theelectronic calculator, he has only to concentrate his attention on thelast digit of the display screen. Thereby, the last digit on the displayscreen may be orderly arranged with the ten frequently used numeric keys0 through 9, that is, the last digit on the display screen is arrangedin an area of suitable size, concentratively with the ten numeric inputkeys, this area may be simultaneously within a visual field without orwith little movement of the human visual line. The input keys of anelectronic calculator can be appropriately arranged in partitioned areasaccording to their functions, and high light this small area withsuitable indicative pattern, making it more eye-catching.

[0006] In the various arrangement schemes mentioned above; the lastnumeric digit on the display screen can be enlarged, for example, tooccupy the position of two digits. This arrangement will make the lastdigit more eye-catching, and the input performance more convenient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The present invention will be described in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first scheme embodying theelectronic calculator of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second scheme embodying theelectronic calculator of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a third scheme embodying theelectronic calculator of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 4 is an example of the internal circuit structure employed bythe electronic calculator of the present invention; and

[0012]FIG. 5 is the structure of the electronic calculator of thepresent invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Embodiment Scheme 1:

[0014] The first scheme embodying the present inanition as shown in FIG.1 arranges the infrequently used keys of the electronic calculator inthe upper positions closely adjacent to the display screen, and arrangesthe ten frequently used data input keys 0 through 9 in positionsadjacent to the upper and upper right sides of the last digit of thedisplay screen.

[0015] Embodiment Scheme 2:

[0016] The second scheme embodying the present invention as shown inFIG. 2 still arranges the infrequently used keys in positions adjacentto the upper side of the display screen, but orderly arranges the tenfrequently used data input keys 0 through 9 in a small area with thelast digit of the display screen, and arranges the keys on thecalculator panel in partitioned areas according to their differentfunctions.

[0017] Embodiment Scheme 3:

[0018] The third scheme embodying the present invention as shown in FIG.3 arranges a portion of several infrequently used keys in positionsbelow the display screen, based on the first and second schemes.

[0019] In summary, the present invention scientifically arranges thepositions of the display screen and keys on the electronic calculatorpanel essentially in accordance with the characteristics of human visionto achieve the object of convenient use. Accordingly, the internalstructure should be changed with the change of the potion of each of thecomponents on the electronic calculator panel. Conventional electroniccalculator essentially comprises a housing, keys, a display, a printedcircuit board and chips. As compared with the conventional electroniccalculators, the “new type of easy-to-use electronic calculator”comprised essentially the same components as mentioned above; but thereare differences in the structures and arrangements of the housing,internal circuit board, display screen, and etc., which are differentfrom the existing electronic calculators. In order to produce the “newtype of easy-to-use electronic calculator”, “it is necessary to redesignand manufacture the electronic calculator according to the structuralfeatures of the “new type of easy -to use electronic calculator”. First,each of the components of the housing and circuit board and etc. asrequired is manufactured, then those various components are assembledinto an integrated “new type of easy-to-use electronic calculator”. Thefollowing is an introduction to the main constituents and manufacturingprocess of the “new type of easy-to-use electronic calculator” designedaccording to scheme 1. FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram of the“new type of easy-to -use electronic calculator”, where (1) is a liquidcrystal display screen, (2) a chip, (3) keys, (4) pins of liquid crystaldisplay screen. In FIG. 5, (1) is a diagram of the electronic calculatorpanel made by injection of plastic, (2) a back view of the printedcircuit and wiring, (3) a front view of the printed circuit and wiring.The manufacturing process is, after the manufacture of variouscomponents, then the devices such as the chip and etc. are welded ontothe printed circuit board according to the circuitry shown in theelectric schematic diagram, and finally the required “new type ofeasy-to-use electronic calculator” is assembled. It should be noted thatthe design and manufacture method and process of the “new type ofeasy-to-use electronic calculator” are similar to that of the existingelectronic calculators, there is no technical or processing difficulty.This can be easily achieved by ordinary technicians in the art, and this“new type of easy-to-use electronic calculator” can easily bemanufactured by the existing factories engaged in the producing ofconventional electronic calculators, thus this product is easy toproduce.

[0020] The basic principle and method of the present invention are alsoapplicable on electronic computers, typewriter, telex machines and etc.insofar as they have a display screen and input keys. Satisfactoryeffects can be obtained if this method is used in those aspects.

[0021] Electronic computers have been widely used now. It is well knownthat electronic computer mainly comprises a processing unit, a display,a keyboard and etc., the principle and structure thereof are similar tothat of the electronic calculator. In principle, an electroniccalculator is a miniature electronic computer which collectivelyassembles the processing unit, display, keyboard of an electroniccomputer onto a single housing. Therefore, the electronic computer alsohas the problem of difficult to input like the electronic calculator.the input keyboard of the electronic computer can be suitably modifiedaccording to the above mentioned basic principle and method, the objectof easy-to-use can thus be achieved. There are many embodiment schemes,the simplest scheme is to provide a display with input display functionin the space bar position of the electronic computer, without changingthe display function of the original computer. There two displays areoperable to correctly display the same input signal of the operation ofthe same key simultaneously, the input result can be known by watchingthe display of the keyboard display, thus greatly facilitating theoperation and use by the user. Another scheme is to provide anelectronic calculator with the display function of computer input in theposition of the space bar of the electronic computer input keyboard, anda special function conversion key is utilized to convert between thecomputer functionality and the calculator functionality for thecalculator. In the computer use state, it can be used to monitor thecorrectness or erroneousness of the input; while in the calculator usestate, it can be used as a common calculator, the functionalityconversion can be performed at any time, and it is very convenient touse. The method for realizing simultaneous display function of input ofthese two displays is to make the alphabetic keys A through Z, the tennumeric keys 0 through 9, and necessary symbolic keys mutuallyindependent double-contact keys. When one of the keys is pressed, twoseparate pairs of contacts can be simultaneously closed, respectively,to effect these two display function of input simultaneously,. Themanufacturing is simple and easy to carry out.

[0022] Furthermore, after the employment of the new type of inputkeyboard, one may appropriately keep a distance from the originaldisplay when he is using the electronic computer, in order to reduce theharmful effect on human health from the elector magnetic radiation; itis especially important for those using the electronic computer in theirwork for long time. It can be said that this is a both convenient andsafe electronic computer.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new type of easy-to-use electronic calculatorcharacterized in that the input keys on the panel of the electroniccalculator are arranged in positions on the upper, upper right and rightsides closely adjacent to the display screen, some of the infrequentlyused keys can still be arranged in positions closely below the displayscreen, the about mentioned arrangement may arrange the last digit orthe enlarged last digit and the ten frequently used numeric input keystogether into a small area closely adjacent to the display screen to beused in association, as well as the input keys can be arranged inappropriately partitioned areas in accordance with different functionsof the input keys on the panel of the electronic calculator, thefeatures of these arrangement are to arrange all the keys in positionsas close to the display screen as possible, making the last digit of thedisplay screen and the ten frequently used numeric input keys 0 through9 be located within the same field of vision without the need of movingthe human visual line or only to move slightly, such that the inputfunction of the electronic calculator can be more convenient and theobject of an easy-to-used electronic calculator can be achieved, thebasic principles and methods of the present invention are alsoapplicable to situations with display screen and input keys such aselectronic computers, typewriters, telex machines and etc., especiallyfor electronic computers having substantially the same principles andstructures with that of the electronic calculators, a display having theinput display-function of the electronic computer is additionallyprovided in appropriate position on the input keyboard of electroniccomputer, or an electronic calculator having the input display functionof electronic computer is provided, this will make the use of theelectronic computer greatly convenient.